[Rumour] Flames meeting with Ryan Reaves

[sureLoss]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1012686869916774400

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe

The Blues, Pens and Golden Knights all disagree with the posters here citing he is nothing more than a face puncher and isn't a hockey player.

How in the world can elite teams experiencing success have this guy playing regularly throughout the season? Maybe because he isn't a detriment to the team while he is on the ice? Maybe he helps his teams?

Once again, ask yourself why those same elite teams keep letting him go if he's so important and valuable.

We need toughness, of that there is no doubt. But we also need someone who can improve the fourth line. Especially if it is still going to have the likes of Brouwer and Lazar anchoring it to the ocean floor.

[EldrickOnIce]

Originally Posted by rhino

This is not criticism of your post but I would just like to hear who you and others think is someone that is like what you want to bring in?

Unfortunately Blake Wheeler is taken.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Once again, ask yourself why those same elite teams keep letting him go if he's so important and valuable.

We need toughness, of that there is no doubt. But we also need someone who can improve the fourth line. Especially if it is still going to have the likes of Brouwer and Lazar anchoring it to the ocean floor.

He played for St.Louis for 7 years, Pittsburgh got value out of a trade for him to fill what they thought was a more glaring need on their team, and now he’s a free agent because Vegas has bigger fish to fry.

Looking at why he isn’t playing for those teams doesn’t really do anything to tarnish his value. He’s a valuable 4th liner, by nature these guys switch teams throughout their career, and he’s kept his value along the way.

[sureLoss]

Friedman on 960 says he heard Reaves visited Vancouver.

He also says he believes it is true that Reaves had dinner with Treliving and co.

[Heavy Jack]

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Once again, ask yourself why those same elite teams keep letting him go if he's so important and valuable.

We need toughness, of that there is no doubt. But we also need someone who can improve the fourth line. Especially if it is still going to have the likes of Brouwer and Lazar anchoring it to the ocean floor.

Friedman was talking about how he thought Reaves was good in the playoffs. My issue is that the playoffs are not a focus for the Flames because really they are just hoping to have a good enough 82 game season that they can make the playoffs as a bottom seed and I don't see the sense in a bubble team accumulating playoff warriors. The Golden Knights have done everything right so far. If they don't think he's worth a raise or extension maybe that's a sign seeing they know more than the Flames what Reaves can offer. Maybe the Flames should take their lead and start emulating organizations that are doing things right rather than keep down the antiquated path of Burke and the old NHL. Maybe in a few years if the Flames have got to the point where they are a playoff lock and want to make the next step into cup contender you start bringing in guys that can make a difference in a playoff series but this team should be eyeing only guys can contribute consistently over an 82 game regular season.

[Enoch Root]

The Flames should not be concerned about the playoffs?

Wow. I am glad management doesn't feel the same way.

Also, he would provide value in the regular season as well. The Flames get pushed around - to an embarrassing degree. If his presence cures, or even reduces that, he has helped the team get better.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

The Flames should not be concerned about the playoffs?

Wow. I am glad management doesn't feel the same way.

Also, he would provide value in the regular season as well. The Flames get pushed around - to an embarrassing degree. If his presence cures, or even reduces that, he has helped the team get better.

You know exactly what I meant. Don't be obtuse. This isn't a team that's looking for players to get them over the playoff hump to win the cup. It's a team that just wants to get its foot in the door. The Flames do not get pushed around any more than other teams by an embarrassing degree. Some of you just want a player to go punch someone in the face when they are losing and that's not the way the game is played anymore. If the Knights aren't trying to keep him in the fold it's a sign.

[Toonage]

Not sure I see Reaves choosing Calgary over NYC so those who dodn't want him on the Flames are probably going to get their wish.

[Hot_Flatus]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

The Flames should not be concerned about the playoffs?

Wow. I am glad management doesn't feel the same way.

Also, he would provide value in the regular season as well. The Flames get pushed around - to an embarrassing degree. If his presence cures, or even reduces that, he has helped the team get better.

Clearly not what was being said in that post....

The game is simply not played this way anymore. If the Flames were a sure bet to make the post season and needed a guy like this at the deadline it makes a little more sense to me. Potentially pursuing a face puncher with next to no skill in FA is insanity when we should be looking at players that can play. From the standpoint of this team needing bottom 6 players that can contribute by providing offense, this would be a shocking step back from even what we had last season.

The mere thought of this 4th line makes me want to puke:
Reaves-Lazar-Brouwer

[keenan87]

I think if it came down to a choice. I would sign Rieder over Reaves. I think he will slot in perfectly on the team.

[Red]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

You know exactly what I meant. Don't be obtuse. This isn't a team that's looking for players to get them over the playoff hump to win the cup. It's a team that just wants to get its foot in the door. The Flames do not get pushed around any more than other teams by an embarrassing degree. Some of you just want a player to go punch someone in the face when they are losing and that's not the way the game is played anymore. If the Knights aren't trying to keep him in the fold it's a sign.

I kind of disagree with this line of thinking. There is no gradual way of improving in the playoffs, 1 round win year one, 3 round wins a year later etc. You get in and fight tooth and nail to beat your opponent. There is a surprising story every year. Vegas, Nashville, Ottawa, Calgary in 04, Oilers in 06 and on and on....you build to win it all, not just a round or two and wait to go all out at some point.



And yes, the Flames are still one of if not the softest teams in the NHL. They'd get crushed in a playoff battle. Sadly we haven't had a playoff battle in years.

[mrdonkey]

Originally Posted by Toonage

Not sure I see Reaves choosing Calgary over NYC so those who dodn't want him on the Flames are probably going to get their wish.

Yeah, I can't see any scenario where he chooses Calgary if NYR are pushing that hard for him. They've got tons of cap space to play with an an obvious lifestyle advantage.

I'd prefer the Flames add some toughness to the lineup through trading for hard-nosed players who can play and score. Sadly I've come to expect we will just move on to signing some useless goon nobody's ever heard of from a non-playoff team.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

You know exactly what I meant. Don't be obtuse. This isn't a team that's looking for players to get them over the playoff hump to win the cup. It's a team that just wants to get its foot in the door. The Flames do not get pushed around any more than other teams by an embarrassing degree. Some of you just want a player to go punch someone in the face when they are losing and that's not the way the game is played anymore. If the Knights aren't trying to keep him in the fold it's a sign.

Well, as long as we're not being obtuse

[Roof-Daddy]

The allure of the big apple and an O6 franchise would be appealing for Reaves. But as a western Canadian kid, playing in a Canadian market might also appeal to him since he's spent his whole career so far in the US.

[Moneyhands23]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

The allure of the big apple and an O6 franchise would be appealing for Reaves. But as a western Canadian kid, playing in a Canadian market might also appeal to him since he's spent his whole career so far in the US.

Not to mention New York is starting what looks like a rebuild/retool. On a 3 year contract there he went be likely to play for the cup.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

He played for St.Louis for 7 years, Pittsburgh got value out of a trade for him to fill what they thought was a more glaring need on their team, and now he’s a free agent because Vegas has bigger fish to fry.

Looking at why he isn’t playing for those teams doesn’t really do anything to tarnish his value. He’s a valuable 4th liner, by nature these guys switch teams throughout their career, and he’s kept his value along the way.

If being cut from those teams doesn't tarnish his value, then being on those teams (briefly for the last two) doesn't enhance it, that's my point. It's basically an appeal to authority without actually looking at our own needs.

But, if we were to run with that anyway, you are right that both Pittsburgh and Vegas had more glaring needs, or bigger fish to fry. So do we.

I'm all for face punching. But we need our face puncher to be able to add something else along with. Reaves is not that guy.

[Weitz]

Originally Posted by Moneyhands23

Not to mention New York is starting what looks like a rebuild/retool. On a 3 year contract there he went be likely to play for the cup.

A guy like him might be able to get a longer contract from a rebuilding team though. Who knows if he gets another contract after this one.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

If the Knights aren't trying to keep him in the fold it's a sign.

A sign of what? This keeps getting repeated, but free agency is full of players that teams “aren’t trying to keep.” JVR, Neal, etc.